Visual assembly aid for sprinkler and method for use

Abstract

A fire protection sprinkler includes a body having an input end and an output end, the body having an output orifice at the output end. The sprinkler includes a frame extending from the body in the output direction and a deflector supported by the frame positioned opposite the output orifice. Also, the sprinkler includes a seal assembly which seals the output orifice. The seal assembly has a first side and a second side, the first side bearing identifying indicia associated with the orientation of the seal assembly. When the first side is oriented in the input direction, a portion of the indicia is visible from the input end, to indicate a correct assembly. However, when the first side is oriented in the output direction, none of the indicia is visible from the input end, indicating incorrect assembly. The identifying indicia can take the form of one or more of the following: a color, a character, a symbol, and a mark. The seal assembly can include a cap and an annular spring washer, such as a Belleville spring washer, used to provide a pressure seal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fire protection sprinkler comprising:
 a body having an input end and an output end, the body having an output orifice at the output end; and   a seal assembly which seals the output orifice, wherein the seal assembly has a first side and a second side, the first side bearing identifying indicia associated with the orientation of the seal assembly, wherein when the first side is oriented in the input direction a portion of the indicia is viewable from the input end to indicate a correct assembly and wherein when the first side is oriented in the output direction the indicia is not viewable from the input end to indicate an incorrect assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The fire protection sprinkler according to  claim 1 , wherein the indicia includes at least one of a color, a character, a symbol, and a mark. 
     
     
         3 . The fire protection sprinkler according to  claim 2 , wherein the seal assembly includes a seal cap and an annular seal washer. 
     
     
         4 . The fire protection sprinkler according to  claim 3 , wherein the seal washer is a Belleville spring washer. 
     
     
         5 . The fire protection sprinkler according to  claim 3 , wherein the annular spring washer bears at least a portion of the indicia. 
     
     
         6 . The fire protection sprinkler according to  claim 5 , wherein the annular spring washer includes a layer bearing the indicia. 
     
     
         7 . The fire protection sprinkler according to  claim 6 , wherein the layer is formed from polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         8 . The fire protection sprinkler according to  claim 6 , wherein the annular spring washer includes at least one colorized applied layer on at least one of its two sides, wherein the colors on each of the two sides are different. 
     
     
         9 . A method of manufacturing a sprinkler comprised of a body having an input end and an output end, the body having an output orifice at the output end,
 providing a seal assembly for sealing the output orifice, the seal assembly having   a first side and a second side, the first side bearing identifying indicia associated with the orientation of the seal assembly   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising orienting the seal assembly with the first side in the input direction and positioning the seal assembly on the body at the output orifice, and sealing the output orifice. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the method further includes viewing the seal assembly from the input end of the body, and verifying the orientation of the seal assembly, wherein when the first side is oriented in the input direction a portion of the indicia is viewable from the input end to indicate a correct assembly and wherein when the first side is oriented in the output direction the indicia is not viewable from the input end to indicate an incorrect assembly.